Suffering in Silence and Solitude
Texarkana Monthly shares information during Child Abuse Awareness Month.
The national news has reported an increase in child abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, the child abuse hotline reports in Texas have decreased 40-60%. “This is likely due to the fact that teachers and school employees make up a large portion of these hotline calls,” said Breanne Bradshaw with Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center. “92% of children are abused by someone they know, leaving many children helpless at home—living with their abusers during this quarantine.”
Last year, the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center served 839 children and their non-offending caregivers in our community. Texarkana CAC is still serving children and their partners in law enforcement and child protective services. “We expect to see an increase in reports once shelter-in-place orders are lifted,” said Bradshaw.
April is dedicated to Child Abuse Awareness. Texarkana Monthly and Texarkana CAC encourage you to educate yourself on recognizing and reporting child abuse. View statistics, warning signs and ways to report on the following pages. To find out more information about Texarkana CAC services and training visit www.texarkanacac.org. 
1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be abused before their 18th birthday.
1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone.
92% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser.
81% of child sexual abuse incidents for all ages occur in one-perpetrator/one-child circumstances.
Child abuse reports should be made to the state’s child protective services agency AND the police.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
You can find more information about abuse on the CDC’s website HERE and on the Darkness to Light website HERE.
